Well, considering there have been over 130 views of this thing with no "winners", I guess it is time to tell you what it is.

Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with Samuel Clarke or his fairy lamps. That said, it is interesting just the same.....if you like gadgets. The following link will take you to the description......1883.

The 5992 patent was the patent number in Great Britain in 1883. But the same item was patented in the US with the patent number 324,009 in 1885 by the same person working with the Domestic Electrical Manufacturing Company of Boston Mass. I find it interesting that it was called a GAS lighter (I assume they are talking about oil rather than GAS as we know it today). I also like that in the 5th paragraph it talks about lighting inflammable gases, and explosive charges in mines. Why would you not use a dynamite or blasting cap plunger? They were built in the 1870's with much success. By the way, great find.